Explore

Public Safety Presence on State St.

Through the coordinated efforts of several programs and resources, residents and businesses can expect a more enjoyable State Street presence with enhanced public safety presence designed to increase safety, enforce the City’s smoking ban, and improve the overall downtown experience. Two to four ambassadors will patrol State Street from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors can expect stepped up police patrols two days a week, increasing to three days a week in August. Paid for by a state grant, the more visible public safety presence will act to curb nuisance issues before they arise.

The stepped up presence will include:

The Ambassador Program, uniformed ambassadors who will engage with businesses and visitors to address behavior, maintenance, and aesthetics issues;

Police Officers, officers will lead general enforcement activities in the downtown corridor;

Volunteers in Policing, who will enhance community communication and law enforcement’s presence downtown;

Community Liaisons to answer questions and help connect homeless individuals to social services;

And restorative police officers to interface directly with unsheltered individuals to transition people off the street in lieu of jail time.

In addition to increased patrols and response to nuisance complaints, officers will also enforce the City’s smoking ban. Signage in city parking lots, parks, beach areas, and sidewalks will also work to educate the public about the ban.

Ambassadors

Uniformed ambassadors will engage with businesses and visitors to address issues encountered related to behavior, maintenance, and aesthetics. Two to four Ambassadors will patrol State Street every day from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. They will communicate with downtown businesses on a regular basis and solve problems with regard to nuisance behaviors or maintenance needs in different areas. Look for the Ambassadors wearing a red shirt uniform.

Volunteers in Policing (VIP)

Volunteers in Policing enhance community communication and law enforcement’s presence downtown. With a team of 11 and growing, the officers assist with various law enforcement assignments. VIP staff can be seen patrolling State Street wearing a gray uniform.

Community Liaisons

Community Liaisons patrol State Street and Milpas Street to answer questions and help connect homeless individuals to social services. Wearing a yellow shirt uniform, one Community Liaison patrols State Street from 8:00 a.m. to noon from Monday to Friday and another Community Liaison patrols Milpas Street on Monday to Wednesday on a varied daily schedule.

Police Officers

Responding to community concerns, two restorative police officers interface directly with unsheltered individuals to transition people off the street in-lieu of jail time. The officers play a key role in the Restorative Court program each week to reunite individuals with family and friends and place them in social service programs. A new Neighborhood Policing Unit was formed to combine the Restorative Policing program, Beat Coordinators, Bike Team, Special Enforcement Team, and volunteer services.

AmeriCorps Case Workers

Coordinated through the Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness, three AmeriCorps staff provide case management services and connect homeless individuals with social services related to housing, health care, mental health care, and substance abuse. There is one full-time and two part-time workers focused on State Street.